Michael Atherton: Sloppy England have made things difficult for themselves with Afghanistan defeat

Two losses in their opening three games leaves Jos Buttler's side up against it in attempts to defend their title, with unbeaten South Africa and hosts India to come in two of their next three

England face an uphill battle to cling onto their men's Cricket World Cup crown after defeat to Afghanistan in Delhi, according to former captain Michael Atherton.

Jos Buttler's side lost the second of their opening three matches at the Arun Jaitley Stadium by 69 runs.

Set 285 to win after 80 from Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the 2019 champions were bowled out for 215 as spinners Mujeeb ur Rahman, Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan shared eight wickets between them.

Atherton, who played 169 times for England including 54 one-day internationals, believes a poor start to the match set the tone for the defeat which leaves their top-four hopes in the balance.

"I thought they start badly today, sloppily," he told Sky Sports. "Five wides to start, [Sam] Curran gives away a no ball and a free hit in the opening 10 overs, a miss-field from [Jonny] Bairstow that goes for four which might have taken a bit of a bounce off the square. They just looked a bit off the pace from the start and that sets the tone. They're always chasing the game from that point onwards.

England had no answer to Afghanistan's spin battery (MONEY SHARMA/AFP via Getty Images)

 Adil Rashid took three wickets but there were few other bright spots for the world champions (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

"They did come back into it: Adil Rashid bowled excellently and they'll be really pleased with the overs Liam Livingstone bowled. The danger signs were there because if Rashid is bowling well and Livingstone is getting through 10, then clearly the conditions are reasonable for spin and that is how it panned out.

"I thought Harry Brook played excellently but nobody else. It was a below-par performance with the bat and ball. 

"They were well beaten tonight, as they were against New Zealand. That is the concern. England lost matches in the 2019 World Cup so all is not lost but they've lost two badly, beaten heavily, and now they are not giving themselves much margin for error."

He added: "They've just not hit the ground running in the World Cup and have made things very difficult for themselves now."

Following a nine-wicket hammering by New Zealand in the tournament's opening game and a first loss to Afghanistan in any format, England can waste little time if they're to successfully defend their title from four years ago. They take on South Africa in Mumbai on Saturday (October 21) before facing Sri Lanka and hosts India the following week.

England's Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 schedule

October 5 - New Zealand - lost by nine wickets

October 10 - Bangladesh - won by 137 runs

October 15 - Afghanistan - lost by 69 runs

October 21 - South Africa (Mumbai, 9.30am)

October 26 - Sri Lanka (Bengaluru, 9.30am)

October 29 - India (Lucknow, 8.30am GMT)

November 4 - Australia (Ahmedabad, 8.30am)

November 8 - Netherlands (Pune, 8.30am)

November 11 - Pakistan (Kolkata, 8.30am)

Discussion is now set to turn to future selection, with out-of-form bowlers Curran and Chris Woakes vulnerable to missing out. Ben Stokes is meanwhile nearing full fitness after a hip problem which has limited his involvement to running drinks.

"They've got some big decisions to make," admitted Atherton, who skippered England men 43 times in ODIs including at the 1996 World Cup.

"One is around Stokes and our understanding is he is so close to fitness and you'd expect him to be fit for the Mumbai game on Saturday. But then they have some difficult decisions because if Stokes comes back in who do they leave out? On form tonight you wouldn't leave Harry Brook out.

"Then what do you do with Chris Woakes? A very consistent performer for a long period of time but looks off the pace here so I imagine they might make a change there with the new ball attack. 

"Those are decisions to make in the days to come. It is one of those nights where you don't want to panic, let calmness descend and make cool decisions in the cold light of day."

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